A Headstrong Woman

chapter Eight

Jonathon stood at the bottom of the porch steps and waited for his boss to join him. Maybe with her properly attired to work they could make some progress, especially since the weather was co-operating. He still thought he was crazy for getting himself into this situation. Why had he promised Eli he’d look after her anyway? Because he hadn’t expected to have to do it, he admitted to himself. It wasn’t that he disliked Alexandria, he had no reason to, but looking after a headstrong woman wasn’t what he would call a picnic, even if her spunk did amuse him.

The door to the house opened and pulled Jonathon’s attention from his thoughts. His gaze swept over his boss and he quickly worked at schooling his features. When he had pictured her in men’s clothing, he had pictured her lost in baggy pants; he hadn’t expected her to buy them to fit. Apparently she hadn’t expected the end result either; she looked highly uncomfortable.

“Much better. Ready to work?” Jonathon tried to put her at ease. Her clothing wasn’t indecent; merely… surprising.

“Are you sure I look all right?” her hands came to her hips.

Jonathon followed the motion and then yanked his attention back to her face.

“You look ready to work.”

“I am ready,” she nodded and started down the steps. She had watched Jonathon’s reaction closely and had seen nothing to indicate that he thought anything of her clothing.

“At least I have one consolation,” Alexandria commented as she swung into the saddle, a task much easier in her new clothing, “anyone who happened along would mistake me as one of the men and think nothing of it.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Jonathon muttered under his breath as he mounted.

Alexandria didn’t hear him. Anna did and frowned at them from her position on the porch.

“Do you think the men will be uncomfortable with my being there?” Alexandria fretted.

Jonathon looked down into her upturned face and wished that he could assure her they wouldn’t.

“They’ll get used to it,” he answered instead. “Could I make one suggestion though?”

“What’s that?”

“Find a name you’re comfortable with them using. Boss might be hard to swallow and Mrs. Morris will only remind them you’re a woman.” Like they’d need reminding, he thought to himself.

“I’ll do that,” she nodded more to herself. “I was planning on giving them the chance to leave, no questions asked. I know some men don’t like working for a woman.”

“That’s a good idea,” he was thinking of a couple of the men who had already complained. They reached the men and Alexandria started making the rounds.

Rand answered as she had expected him to: that he was leaving to set up his own place up before his marriage to his fiancée. Rusty assured her that he had no problem working for a woman.

“Sure, aint no reason a woman caint run things,” Chris smiled.

“I won’t abandon you, Mrs. Morris,” Sparky solemnly promised. Alexandria smiled, “Call me Alex, Sparky.”

“Okay, Alex,” he smiled in return.

She moved on to the next hand. Howard looked a bit embarrassed but said he would be moving on. She moved on to Nick, her back straight and pulse racing. She had been uncomfortable around him ever since the incident in the barn.

“Sure, Boss. It oughta be real interesting around here,” he smirked.

“Alex, please,” Alexandria requested as she repressed a shudder.

“Sure, Alex it is,” he grinned.

Alexandria, aware of his eyes on her, moved on. She moved up beside Jonathon and asked him questions about what the men were doing and what the job involved. Jonathon patiently answered her questions. Over lunch, the men started a conversation with her, hesitantly at first, and then more comfortably when she responded with a smile and a few jokes.

By the time Alexandria returned to the ranch to speak with the men who were just stirring to switch shifts, she was feeling more confident about the task before her. Jonathon gathered the men up and Alexandria made the same offer to them that she had made to the others. All but one man stayed. She had lost a total of three men that day and knew they would have to be replaced.

“That didn’t go so bad,” she told Jonathon after the men had moved on.

“It didn’t,” he agreed, “you did well out there today.”

“Thank you,” she beamed.

“Do me a favor, Alexandria.”

“Sure,” Alexandria watched him expectantly.

“Watch yourself around Nick. I don’t want to scare you, but he makes me nervous, especially considering what happened with him before,” he gave voice to his concern.

“I plan to,” she assured him. “Thank you so much for your help, Jonathon.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Would you like to join us for dinner?” she invited.

“Home cooking, now how can I refuse that?” he asked with a wide smile. “Just between you and me, Mack does an okay job, but …” he let the sentence trail.

Alexandria smiled. “Come on, we’ll get Millie and Anna to feed us,” she led the way into the house.

Anna flushed and immediately began fidgeting as soon as Jonathon walked through the door. She spent the meal flirting mercilessly with Jonathon. Alexandria found it amusing.

***

Several mornings later, Alexandria dressed for work and joined Jonathon in the yard where he was waiting with their mounts. She felt sore as she moved off the porch; the last several days had been harder than she anticipated and when she returned home each evening she usually still had something waiting for her to go over in the office. Jonathon seemed to have picked up on her fatigue and had been very patient with her. His playful teasing and joking helped distract her as well. However, as much as she appreciated his saddling Spirit for her, she knew she should see to it herself. “You know, Jonathon, I don’t wish to sound ungrateful, but I do know how to saddle a horse,” she informed him.

Jonathon surveyed her a moment; she looked rather like a kid playing dress up.

“I know, but I don’t want to come in and find you buried under a saddle one morning,” his gaze again swept over her slim frame. He knew he shouldn’t tease her but after discovering how easy it was to get a reaction out of her he couldn’t seem to help himself; it was too much fun.

“Now wait a minute…”

“Tell me something,” Jonathon cut off her argument, “does your sister by chance have a crush on me or…”

Alexandria’s laughter cut him off.

“Noticed that, did you?”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he nodded. “We should be going,” he suggested and swung into his saddle. He watched Alexandria do the same; he was still impressed that she could do it without the aide of a mounting block.

“My sister noticed you the moment you walked through the church doors; aren’t you flattered?” Alexandria was enjoying teasing him now.

“She’s a sweet kid but I’m not interested.”

“Don’t you let her hear you call her that,” Alexandria laughed.

“I can’t help it, she’s all wide eyes and…” Jonathon frowned as he tried to put into words.

“She thinks that’s what men like; it seems to work for her over all.”

“Good, so she can choose one of them and leave me alone,” he didn’t even try to hide his exasperation with all the female attention he was getting.

“Good luck, she seems quite smitten.”

That evening as they returned to the ranch Alexandria posed a question she had wanted to ask all day.

“Will you teach me to use a lasso?”

“What?” he was certain that he had misunderstood her?

“Please? I want to be able to do all of the work not just part of it.”

“You aren’t planning on learning the job and then firing me are you?” he teased.

“No! I need you here for as long as you’ll stay. I’d be lost without you and I know you can’t deny that,” she told him.

“Humph! Sounds to me as though you’re trying to sweet talk me into helping you,” he playfully accused. He was surprised by how easily they had fallen into a comfortable working routine.

“Of course,” she smiled.

“Okay, you win. I’ll teach you how to use a lasso.”

“Thank you, Jonathon. If there’s anything I can do to help you let me know.”

“Keep your sister at bay and we’ll be fine,” he smiled.

“Speaking of Anna, she said to invite you to dinner,” Alexandria was grinning widely.

“For the food, I come for the food,” he clarified.

Alexandria led him into the house where they joined Millie and Anna at the table.

“Where are you from, Mr. Stewart?” Anna asked as soon as blessing had been said.

“South Dakota.”

“Is your family still there?” Anna’s gaze was locked on Jonathon.

“Yes, they are.”

“Do you have siblings?”

“Anna, the man is trying to eat!” Alexandria chastised her sister. “Sorry, Mr. Stewart,” Anna’s cheeks were red.

“No peas!” Lilly shouted when Alexandria spooned some onto her plate. Lilly shoved Alexandria’s hand away and scattered peas across the table.

“Lillian Marie! You know better,” Alexandria scolded and pulled the child’s chair out. She gave Lilly’s bottom a firm spat and Lilly threw herself into the floor and started screaming. Jonathon watched as Alexandria wrestled with the toddler for the next several minutes; the battle was seemingly at a draw. Alexandria, her clothing rumpled and her hair disheveled, now stood over a screaming Lilly.

Jonathon debated his next move a moment before following through with it. He stood, picked Lilly up, and set her on her feet.

“That’s enough!” he said firmly. Lilly quieted suddenly; her blue eyes were wide as she stared at Jonathon. “Sit down and eat your dinner,” he instructed. He turned to Alexandria to apologize.

“Sorry if I overstepped….”

“Not at all; thank you, Jonathon. She doesn’t do this often but when she does, nothing I try seems to work. Elijah always had to step in,” she said as they reclaimed their seats.

The rest of the meal passed without incident. As soon as Lilly was dismissed from the table, she walked over to Jonathon’s chair and stood, finger in mouth, watching him a moment before lifting both arms to him. Jonathon reached for her and lifted her into his lap.

“You’ve got me wrapped around your cute little finger sweetie but you can’t do your Mama that way, okay?” he asked as he pushed her hair off her forehead. Lilly nodded and laid her head on his shoulder.

“You’re good with children, Mr. Stewart,” Anna commented as she helped gather dishes off the table.

“Four nieces and nephews taught me a few things. Emily and I used to baby sit often.”

“So you like children then?”

“I’m a sucker for them,” he smiled. He set Lilly on her feet and stood. “Ladies, I thank you for dinner, it was excellent. I’ll let you ladies have your peace and quiet,” he said as he collected his hat from a peg on the wall. Alexandria followed him to the door.

“Thank you for your help with Lilly. I hope you don’t think that I let her run over me but you saw….”

Jonathon could see the fatigue lining her face.

“Alexandria, I don’t think anything except that you are a strong woman, who despite help is still over whelmed. I’m glad I could help. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll start working with the lasso,” he said and then he was gone.

Alexandria stared at the closed door for a moment, sighed, and moved back to the kitchen. Overwhelmed was an understatement, she decided.

That night after everyone was in bed, Alexandria moved to sit on the back porch, and trained her gaze on the silver moon bathed Bitter Root Range. She felt drained and exhausted but was still restless and knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

She was contemplating the last several weeks of her life when a movement beyond the chicken coop caught her attention. She frowned and moved to stand at the railing; her eyes strained against the darkness. Alexandria hurried down the stairs and into the dim, moonlit yard. She was moving past the bunkhouse when a hand closed around her arm.

“What are you doing out here at this time of night?” Jonathon’s his voice was low, asked in her ear; Alexandria gasped.

“I saw a movement out by the chicken coop,” she explained in little more than a whisper.

“So it seemed like a good idea to go traipsing around unarmed in the dead of night?” he asked her.

Alexandria was thankful for the dark that hid the telling color in her cheeks.

“Come on, stay close to me; I’ll feel better if I know what you’re into,” he instructed.

Alexandria glowered at his back as she followed him. “What are you doing out here?” she kept her voice low.

“I heard something.” He had no more than answered when a commotion sounded. They saw a flash of movement and Jonathon pulled his gun and fired. A large lump of fur now lay just outside the chicken coop. They approached and Alexandria could see that it was a coyote, his lips still curled back to display his fangs. She shuddered; she could have been facing it unarmed right now.

“You okay?” he asked as he took in her pale face and wide eyes in the pale light of the moon.

“I’m fine, you’re right though, it was silly of me to come out unarmed,” she admitted.

“You’re agreeing with me?” his smile was more of a smirk. Alexandria, her brows drawn down into a V, frowned at him before she started laughing. “Don’t get used to it.”

“I won’t,” he assured her.

The bunk house door opened and several faces peered into the darkness. After Jonathon assured them all was fine they retreated into the bunk house again.

“Sorry I gave you cause to worry. I’ll go back in now” she said and turned for the house.

“Wait,” he called.

Alexandria turned to face him.

“I’ve hesitated to bring this up because the sheriff doesn’t have any leads, but I think you need to know. It was the only thing that gave your dad and father-in-law any pause in allowing you to run this place.”

“What’s that?” her arms came around herself. She had the unsettling feeling that whatever he was going to say wasn’t pleasant news.

“I think those men were paid to kill Eli. When they were robbing us and only found a few dollars on us, one of them asked if he should search the wagon. One of the others told him that they were being paid well enough,” Jonathon related.

“Why? Why would someone want Elijah dead?” her voice was full of hurt and confusion.

“The ranch, Alexandria; I don’t want you coming out here unarmed and alone in the dead of night, okay?” he asked and watched her nod. “Good, are you alright?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted.

Jonathon claimed her arm and led her to one of the rockers on the porch.

Alexandria, her thoughts troubled, stared into the dark yard a moment. Who had murdered her husband in cold blood? Who wanted the ranch badly enough to kill an innocent man for it? She closed her eyes a moment and reopened them to find Jonathon squatting in front of her.

“Eli asked me to give you a message. I’d forgotten until this moment. He wanted me to tell you that he was sorry for hurting you; that he did come to love you. He said he heard you crying that first night…it was kind of jumbled but the point was he wanted you to know that he did love you and he was sorry for hurting you,” he related and watched as tears started streaming down her face.

“So he realized it huh? When it was too late and…” Alexandria jumped up and started pacing.

“Go ahead and let it out. I won’t think any less of you,” Jonathon encouraged.

“Do you know how many nights I lay awake wondering why I was so different from other women? Why my dreams of a loving husband and a family were impossible when others weren’t. I was stupid enough to think that I was rescuing him and Lilly.”

“In ways you did, Alexandria.”

“Noble of me huh? I’m sorry; I shouldn’t be burdening you with…”

“I offered. Everyone needs someone to talk to and sometimes it’s harder to talk to those close to us, we don’t want to hurt them.”

“Why are you being so nice? Why do you hang around here and put up with all of this?” she demanded.

“Elijah asked me to promise to look after you and I did. His last thoughts and words were of you.”

Alexandria considered Jonathon’s words. She felt angry, confused, relief…. she shoved the thoughts aside, whatever Jonathon’s reasons for being there, she had an ally and she needed one.

“Mad at me?” he asked.

“No, it explains why you put up with a stupid woman.”

“On the contrary, you are one of the most intelligent women I’ve met,” Jonathon countered.

“I’m sure flattery wasn’t part of the agreement,” she said dryly.

“I don’t flatter. I would think my treatment of your sister would prove that,” he commented.

Alexandria smiled and made a sound that might have been a repressed chuckle. “Thank you, Jonathon. I suppose that I should go get some rest.”

“You’re welcome, Alexandria. I’ll see you in the morning,” Jonathon told her and watched her disappear into the house.

Jonathon leaned against the porch railing for some time. His thoughts strayed from his last days with Emily to his conversation just passed with Alexandria. His life had certainly taken an unexpected turn over the past year. He finally pushed off the railing and started across the yard to the bunkhouse. He had a long day ahead of him on the morrow. Teaching a woman how to use a lasso should prove interesting.